Will The $2,500.00 Car Make It To North America?

unit731 · January 22, 2008

Tata low-cost car to be called Nano

Ratan Tata delivers on promise for no-frills minicar

Jesse Snyder

Automotive News

NEW DELHI -- Tata delivered on Ratan Tata’s pledge for a one lakh ($2,500) car today with its long-awaited Nano minicar, aimed at the gap between motorcycles and conventional minicars. “A promise is a promise,” Ratan Tata said at the unveiling here.

The no-frills four-door 33hp car seats up to five passengers and is powered by a 624cc, two-cylinder gasoline engine and a continuously variable transmission. It uses 5 liters per 100 kilometers and meets local crash test and emissions guidelines. It is also designed to pass international side offset and side crash tests as well as Euro4. It is 8 percent shorter than the Maruti Suzuki 800 but has 21 percent more passenger space.

2000DV4.8 · January 22, 2008

I'd be scared for my life in any car that cost as much as my mountain bike...

Zembonez · January 22, 2008

At the volume they will sell here... they will cost more than 2500 each to federalize.

thecraft · January 22, 2008

Insurance prices are going to get higher. Looks like I could annihilate that thing with my truck and come out with just a few scratches.

pwall · January 22, 2008

If they ever end up in Canada, by the time taxes, etc get put on it, it'll be a $15k car.

Wingnut · January 22, 2008

Seats up to FIVE passengers?

Five what...Cats?

jnpaddison · January 22, 2008

can i get one in chrome for a hood ornament - maybe keep one in the bed of the truck as spare..

will it pass US Crash Standards ??

Draenor · January 22, 2008

By the time they upgrade them to pass NHTSA safety standards the car will cost way more than the $2500.

cm5 · January 22, 2008

i want one!! i can fabricate a lawnmower deck to it and a grass clippins' bagger. still be cheaper than most ride on mowers!!!

pwall · January 22, 2008

Similiar to a 'smart' car but will seat more than 2.....and smart cars aren't cheap.

7egend · January 22, 2008

I think its a great Idea, no matter how many people bash it. It will be a cheap car that will offer economy car competition, which I am all for. Prices for cars are out of control, but people have to have them, so you buy them anyways.

conrad1995 · January 22, 2008

I think its a great Idea, no matter how many people bash it. It will be a cheap car that will offer economy car competition, which I am all for. Prices for cars are out of control, but people have to have them, so you buy them anyways.

For the intended market it will be a huge improvement in safety. It is designed for a market where typical families, mom, dad and the kids all pile on or hang off a motorbike.

I don't think it would ever make it to our market, but Yugo did so.... who knows!

Draenor · January 22, 2008

I think its a great Idea, no matter how many people bash it. It will be a cheap car that will offer economy car competition, which I am all for. Prices for cars are out of control, but people have to have them, so you buy them anyways.

Im not, I actually would use it for work. I use a beater now, just because It gets great gas mileage. Only place it goes is home-work-home. If this car does just that and only cost me one gallon a day to operate, Im in. Actuall I travel approx 50miles a day commute, so I would actuall use less than 1 gallon a day.

I don't think it would ever make it to our market, but Yugo did so.... who knows!

True...

unit731 · January 22, 2008

I think its a great Idea, no matter how many people bash it. It will be a cheap car that will offer economy car competition, which I am all for. Prices for cars are out of control, but people have to have them, so you buy them anyways.

YES!

I have watched "small" cars from the Valiant, Falcon, Corvair, to the Vega, Maverick, Pinto, to the Chevette, Escort, and Focus.

GM gave up. Saturn was a good idea. But GM gave up on that. The base Saturn is manufactured in Belgium/Germany. So much for US company dedicating a whole division to making a small car.

We, in North America, seem to want a small car but it somehow has to have power this and power that and ipod this and navigation and anit-lock brakes and traction control etc.

I am all for a simple inexpensive small car. Whether this one is it is debatable.

Zembonez · January 22, 2008

I am all for a simple inexpensive small car. Whether this one is it is debatable.

I am 100% with you on this. Inner city transportation would be served well by a small inexpensive emissions friendly vehicle. I'm sure there are some headed this way in the next 10 years... just not sure this is it.